The benevolent banner., 1887-10-15
DARK AND CHEERLEss.

Peaks Controlled with the l. lght That
Shines From Out The Divine Revelation
There is something very suggestive
and instructive in a remark attributed |
to the arch infdel, Robert G. Ingersoll; /
Life IS very sad to me; it is very pitt
ful; there isn't much to it" From !
Mr.. IngersoI, considering all things, |
this is remarkable language. He is |
not a poor dyspeptic whose stomach |
often gets above his heart and lies on
it with load that crushas all joy out
of it. He is a man Of good digestion.
good blood and plenty Of it, has a
physique to be admired and to be Gov
eted. In the prime Of life with q
comfortable competence, enviable rep
utation for the most popular and cap
tivating gifts, hailed and applauded
by immense audiences whenever he
speaks, happy, according to Dr. Field.
in his family, where he is lovable and
devotedly loved, yet this man says:
''Life is very sad to me" etc.
This must be a revelation to the hun
dreds of thousands who screamed with
laughter at his wit and drollery and
sarcasm as he employed them in his
raillery at the Bible and Bible charac-
ters. VIII it not seem sU4 prising to
his cav admirers that this man. so full
of humor and fun and ridicule. should
be sad and cherries and say Of life:
1T is very pitiful; there isn't much to
it." If there "isn't much to it, for
man SO peculiarly favored by nature
and fortune, what shall be said for the
lot of those-and they are in the inn
mense maiority-to whom life comes as
an inheritance of physical infrmity
and pain, Of poverty and toll. mental
disquietude and spiritual unrest un-
ceasing domestic and social burdens
and sorrows? What has Mr. Ingersoll to
saw to them? What has he to say for
himself? Fortunate as he is, he has
had some experience of the troubles
from which none of us can escape.
Some years ago he was bereaved OF
brother whom he loved. He officiated
at the funeral. His address on the Oc-
casion was characteristic for rhetorical
beauty and also for its utter cheerless-
ness and barrenness of hope. Life IS
but a morrow vale between the cold
and barren peaks Of two eternities.
No wonder if this is all and the best,
there ism much to it.
At another time, with this burden of
him, the like Of which is always crush
ing some blee ling hearts, he is frivol-
Gus and comical, and talks about be
ING "as ready" should there be {
future life, ''as the next man to ente
on any remunerative occupation.
But '.the peaks are barren and cold
which lie between this and that con
tingencv, and he has nothing bn
Jokes about it. and scorn and sarcasm
for those who look as seeing Il in
who is invisible" and wait to b.
satisfied when they awake i'll Hi
likeness" But Mr.. Ingersolrs expert
ence as an infidel about the sadne5
and emptiness Of life is not singular
Other noted infdels. much more seri
Gus and profound. able to disclose t
others and enjoy themselves an
secret comforts there may lie hidde
in philosophic unbelief if such tler
be. have anticipated him and even "
more bitterly bewailed the calamity (
human existence. As MI. Ingerso
only notoriously rehashed the old il
fdel arguments and sneers, addin
absolutely nothing original. save
NAV be the brilliant tinsel of a uniqr
sarcasm, or a jaunty blasphemy
point the inconSequent logic Of b
predecessors and his own, it is not
be expecel that his occasional sob
confessions, such as the one quoted
this article. should be very ditfere
from theirs. How NJ. Ingersoll
lament resembles that of his gre
French master and superior, VI
taire. who said The world aboun
with wonders, also with victim
In man is more wretche
ness than in all other animals put
gether. Man loves life, yet knows
must die; spends his existence
diffusing the miseries he has sufere
cutting the throats of his fello
creatures for pay; cheating and bel
cheated. The bulk of mankind ;
nothing more than crowd Of wretch
equally criminal equally unfortuna
wish had never been born" To
French skeptic. "the cold and barr
peaks were burdened with slaugh
and crimsoned with blood. To
philosophic Hume they were shrouC
in blackness and darkness. He 50
'.When l look abroad. on every sid
see dispute, contradiction and distr
lion. When | turn my eye inward
ind nothing but doubt and ignoran